Tech

Audi Has Car Headlights That Shoot Laser Beams

LAS VEGAS — Halogen, Xenon and LED car headlights are considered cutting-edge. But that's not forward-looking enough for Audi, which plans to enhance headlamps with — wait for it — lasers.

No, these aren't the pew-pew kind of lasers, but they are impressively bright. Audi estimates that laser technology doubles the viewing distance when using high beams: It's typically about 500 feet, the company says, but with laser lamps, that number jumps to 1,000.

So far, the laser high beams are only in one vehicle, the Audi Quattro Laserlight concept race car. However, CEO Rupert Stadler says they'll be coming to production vehicles, although he didn't specify a date.

In addition to improving brightness, laser headlights help with overall design since they have a much smaller footprint that other kinds of lighting tech; this means designers can use space that would normally be used for headlamps for something else. On the downside, they're costly and less efficient than LEDs.

Audi isn't the only car company interested in laser-toting cars. BMW is developing the tech, too, and plans to offer the high-tech headlights in some cars as an option later this year.

Image: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

CES 2014: Cars

Toyota FV2 Will Read Your Emotions

The FV2 is essentially a pod with a diamond-shaped wheel array and Toyota says that the technology of the vehicle allows it to gauge the driver's mood and suggest possible destinations.

Image: Joe Klamar/AFP/Getty Images

Lamborghini Veneno Roadster

Monster has teamed up with Lamborghini to create a special Monster version of the Lamborghini Veneno Roadster with a complete audio system supplied by the company. The speaker system, which cost around $50,000 to install, is a drop in the ocean compared to $4.5m price tag for the car.

Image: Joe Klamar/AFP/Getty Images

Tesla on Display

A Tesla electric car is on display at the Panasonic booth at the 2014 International CES at the Las Vegas Convention Center on January 7, 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Image: Mashable, Nina Frazier-Hansen

Toyota I-Road

Along with it's fuel cell vehicles, Toyota showed off its diminutive i-Road, a single-person, three-wheeled, rear-wheel-steering electric “car”. Not much bigger than a scooter, the i-Road tops out at 28mph.

Image: Joe Klamar/AFP/Getty Images

Navia Self-Driving Shuttle

France-based robotics company Induct announced on Monday that its intelligent, electric and driverless vehicle is now available in the U.S.. The Navia shuttle will likely be used at public places such as airports, college campuses, theme parks or sports arenas to eliminate pollution and congestion, rather than at home.

Image: Induct

Spark-Renault SRT_01E

Formula Es new fully-electric race car, the Spark-Renault SRT_01E, is displayed during the 2014 International CES on January 6, 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Formula Es new fully-electric race car, capable of speeds in excess of 150mph, will compete in the new FIA Formula E Championship - the worlds first fully-electric racing series beginning in September.

Image: Joe Klamar/AFP/Getty Images

Audi Sport Quattro Laserlight

The Audi Sport Quattro Laserlight concept car on display at the 2014 AUDI CES Keynote presentation. Aside from the futuristic headlamps, the car's calling card is the combination of electric and gas motors -- the latter of which takes it 90 miles per gallon -- for a whopping 700 horsepower.

Image: Gabe Ginsberg/Getty Images for Audi

Toyota Fuel Cell Concept Car

The four-door mid-size sedan has no emissions, with the exception of water vapor, and is essentially an electric car without the need to be plugged in. The combination of hydrogen and air creates both water and electricity, which is then used to power the car. The vehicle is expected to go on sale in 2015.

Image: Mashable, Nina Frazier-Hansen

Toyota's Hydrogen Cell Fueled Car

Calling it the “car of the future,” Toyota said the vehicle will be a zero-emission, mid-size, four-door sedan with a driving range of at least 300 miles between refueling and a fill-up time of less than five minutes. No official price tag was announced, but it is estimated that the cost will range from $50,000 to $100,000.

Image: Joe KlamarAFP/Getty Images

Chevy Brings 4G LTE to Cars

Chevrolet announced it is bringing 4G LTE to its OnStar infotainment system. The 2015 Corvette Stingray has a performance data recorder which allows drivers to record hi-definition video and share with friends.

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